Remote digital image enhancement system and method

Abstract

A system and method are provided for remotely enhancing digital images by communication of the digital images over a network to a remote processing facility. More particularly, the digital image routing method includes steps of receiving a digital image packet that includes a digital image and a customer preference parameter and transmitting the digital image packet to a remote digital image editing system selected according to the customer preference parameter. In addition, the digital image routing method may include the steps of enhancing the digital image based on the customer preference parameter, and transmitting an enhanced digital image packet that includes an enhanced digital image and an enhancement description packet that describes the enhancements made for each of the digital images.

1. A digital image enhancement system, comprising:
 means for receiving a digital image packet directly from a customer via a network, wherein the digital image packet includes a digital image from a digital camera and a customer preference parameter; 
 means for selecting a remote digital image editing system according to the customer preference parameter; 
 means for transmitting the digital image packet to the selected remote digital image editing system; 
 means for enhancing the digital image at the selected remote digital image editing system based on the customer preference parameter; and 
 means for transmitting an enhanced digital image packet to the customer via the network, wherein the enhanced digital image packet includes an enhanced digital image and an enhancement description packet that describes the enhancements made for each of the digital images. 
 
     
     
       2. The digital image enhancement system of  claim 1 , wherein the means for enhancing the digital image, includes means for automatically enhancing the digital image based on the customer preference parameter. 
     
     
       3. A digital image enhancement method, comprising the steps of:
 receiving a digital image packet directly from a customer via a network, wherein the digital image packet includes a digital image from a digital camera and a customer preference parameter; 
 selecting a remote digital image editing system according to the customer preference parameter; 
 transmitting the digital image packet to the selected remote digital image editing system; 
 enhancing the digital image at the selected remote digital image editing system based on the customer preference parameter; and 
 transmitting an enhanced digital image packet to the customer via the network, wherein the enhanced digital image packet includes an enhanced digital image and an enhancement description packet that describes the enhancements made for each of the digital images. 
 
     
     
       4. The digital image enhancement method of  claim 3 , wherein the step of enhancing the digital image, includes enhancing the digital image automatically based upon the customer preference parameter. 
     
     
       5. The digital image enhancement method of  claim 3 , further comprising the step of enhancing the digital image automatically using an automatic digital image enhancement system. 
     
     
       6. The digital image enhancement method of  claim 5 , further comprises the steps of:
 storing an enhancement performed on a previous digital image; 
 analyzing the exhancement performed on the previous digital image; and 
 establishing the enhancement parameter to be used by the automatic digital image enhancement system to automatically enhance the digital image.